[Anonymous]

Hey there… thought I’d jump on the bandwagon and throw my net out there for some career advice. I’m getting very frustrated with my current situation.

Background:

Master of Science in Accounting; GPA=4.0 (undergrad is unrelated)

2 years as an external staff auditor in public accounting

9 mo. as an internal staff audtior in a medium sized bank

I’m 31 and live in Pittsburgh

There’s about 25 people in the Audit department at the bank where I work. The problem is that I don’t really feel like I’m going anywhere. There’s no writing on the wall for a promotion. Mention of preparation for Senior is not included in my employee plan for the coming year, but it is suggested for one of our IT Staff Auditors who has almost no auditing experience and, in my opinion, is nowhere near ready for such a role.

I feel like I’m being pushed all the time and that I’ve been doing Senior-level work since I got here. For example, one of our managers went on leave for six weeks, and we had an audit that was due while she was away. Upper management decided I was the Auditor-In-Charge, gave me a Senior as my Staff. Do I take this as a sign of faith in my abilities, or a sign that my employer doesn’t mind using me for as long as I’ll put up with it? Of the Senior Auditors in my department, one is a CPA, one is a CIA, one is a JD, and two have no certification. Should I be expecting a promotion at the three-year mark in my career, or am I being too demanding? The job market here is very open. I would have no trouble jumping ship if needed.

Anyway, I am bound to my current employment until December because my employer paid $1k for my CPA exam materials. If I don’t see a promotion on the horizon by my review in August, should I eat the $1k and leave? If that’s a bad idea, and still see nothing by December, should I be looking to leave then? I’m not getting any younger… most auditors my age are managers by now. I guess my question boils down to this: Does it look bad to the rest of the world to be a Staff Auditor with more than 3 years of experience?

Thanks in advance.

[Kay]

I feel your de-motivation here. I am in similar situation.

I did my MBA, and got CPA. have been working as a staff internal auditor for almost 3 years (Sept 2014 is my 3rd anniversary). No audit experience prior to this role.

My colleagues and managers have been providing extremely positive feedbacks on me since the first year. I started taking on senior responsibilities on the second year. This year I am working as an AIC. We had a new hire with less than 3 years of work experience, but he is a senior now, and I am kind of mentoring him although I am a staff auditor.

There was a classmate from MBA program who got an offer from the same company, but working in a different audit team. She didn't have audit experience prior to her role in this company, but she got promoted to senior in the second year. I got so pissed and frustrated because her manager was a slacker, and wasn't even mentoring/supporting her at workplace, as compared to myself getting a lot of supports and getting very good feedbacks from all my team members. I guess it is about what team you belongs to, and also depends on luck. In case there is a position, and you demonstrate outstanding performance, then you get promoted.

I have been receiving tons of calls from recruiters for senior opportunities. Some positions are very attracting like 25% salary jump. However, I didn't even apply any only because I like working with my manager. She was the best manager I ever met; caring, charismatic, and easy to get along with.(VERY DIFFERENT FROM a selfish manager who refuses to protect his subordinates if he thinks it puts risks to himself.)

My manager and coworkers are the only thing that I feel good about from my current job. I don't even want to think about salary and promotion any more. That is frustrating. I will hit my 3rd anniversary in September this year. If I don't get promoted by then, I will start looking into job market. Although I have great team members, and manager to work with, I guess I need to move on in my career life.

Currently:
CPA - Class of 2013
ALMI (Associate, Life Management Institute)
CISA - Passed in 2011, Certified in 2014

In Progress:
ASA (Associate of Society of Actuaries) - EXAM P (O), EXAM FM (O), EXAM MFE (X), EXAM MLC (X), EXAM C (X)

[Kay]

I feel your de-motivation here. I am in similar situation.

I did my MBA, and got CPA. have been working as a staff internal auditor for almost 3 years (Sept 2014 is my 3rd anniversary). No audit experience prior to this role.

My colleagues and managers have been providing extremely positive feedbacks on me since the first year. I started taking on senior responsibilities on the second year. This year I am working as an AIC. We had a new hire with less than 3 years of work experience, but he is a senior now, and I am kind of mentoring him although I am a staff auditor.

There was a classmate from MBA program who got an offer from the same company, but working in a different audit team. She didn't have audit experience prior to her role in this company, but she got promoted to senior in the second year. I got so pissed and frustrated because her manager was a slacker, and wasn't even mentoring/supporting her at workplace, as compared to myself getting a lot of supports and getting very good feedbacks from all my team members. I guess it is about what team you belongs to, and also depends on luck. In case there is a position, and you demonstrate outstanding performance, then you get promoted.

I have been receiving tons of calls from recruiters for senior opportunities. Some positions are very attracting like 25% salary jump. However, I didn't even apply any only because I like working with my manager. She was the best manager I ever met; caring, charismatic, and easy to get along with.(VERY DIFFERENT FROM a selfish manager who refuses to protect his subordinates if he thinks it puts risks to himself.)

My manager and coworkers are the only thing that I feel good about from my current job. I don't even want to think about salary and promotion any more. That is frustrating. I will hit my 3rd anniversary in September this year. If I don't get promoted by then, I will start looking into job market. Although I have great team members, and manager to work with, I guess I need to move on in my career life.

Currently:
CPA - Class of 2013
ALMI (Associate, Life Management Institute)
CISA - Passed in 2011, Certified in 2014

In Progress:
ASA (Associate of Society of Actuaries) - EXAM P (O), EXAM FM (O), EXAM MFE (X), EXAM MLC (X), EXAM C (X)

[fuzyfro89]

The best way to get promoted/raise is to get another offer. Then go to your manager and ask for a raise/promotion citing your understanding of the market level for someone with your experience.

The challenge is that if you try to force their hand, you have to be ready to leave if they say no.

[fuzyfro89]

The best way to get promoted/raise is to get another offer. Then go to your manager and ask for a raise/promotion citing your understanding of the market level for someone with your experience.

The challenge is that if you try to force their hand, you have to be ready to leave if they say no.

[Anonymous]

I've historically never done that and have shyed away from playing games… probably because I'm not a very good negotiator. 🙂 I guess I just want to reasonably get paid what I deserve based on my work product. Anyway, I'm just trying to get an idea of when in their careers most Staff Auditors have been promoted to Senior, and at what point I'm doing myself a disservice by staying here.

[Anonymous]

I've historically never done that and have shyed away from playing games… probably because I'm not a very good negotiator. 🙂 I guess I just want to reasonably get paid what I deserve based on my work product. Anyway, I'm just trying to get an idea of when in their careers most Staff Auditors have been promoted to Senior, and at what point I'm doing myself a disservice by staying here.

[fuzyfro89]

@cannot pass:

It depends on your goals. If you feel you are ready today for promotion, and are already doing the work without getting the pay, then the question falls solely on you. Are you willing to do the work for what you're getting paid? I wouldn't, but not everyone has the same goals.

It's not about “playing games”. Getting another offer isn't about doing a dance, rather, finding out your precise market value. Your value is, in large part, dictated by how much someone else would be willing to pay to have you work for them. Interviewing elsewhere is a good way to know how much you are worth. It's all a guess until someone is willing to make an offer for your time.

It's irrelevant what the company says is their promotion policy. What if your manager told you they don't promote to senior until you have 7+ yrs of experience. Would you leave? My point is, they have to compete with other companies. Most companies promote to senior between 2-5 years, again, depending HEAVILY on the company's culture, career path, and specific needs.

Btw, forget the $1k in fees. That is NOT a reason to stay somewhere. I'm sitting on $12k in deferred comp that vests in Nov 2015 and would leave next month if something better came along. It would suck to pay that back, but $12k is not significant when I'm considering it in the context of my career and future earnings for the next 30 years.

[fuzyfro89]

@cannot pass:

It depends on your goals. If you feel you are ready today for promotion, and are already doing the work without getting the pay, then the question falls solely on you. Are you willing to do the work for what you're getting paid? I wouldn't, but not everyone has the same goals.

It's not about “playing games”. Getting another offer isn't about doing a dance, rather, finding out your precise market value. Your value is, in large part, dictated by how much someone else would be willing to pay to have you work for them. Interviewing elsewhere is a good way to know how much you are worth. It's all a guess until someone is willing to make an offer for your time.

It's irrelevant what the company says is their promotion policy. What if your manager told you they don't promote to senior until you have 7+ yrs of experience. Would you leave? My point is, they have to compete with other companies. Most companies promote to senior between 2-5 years, again, depending HEAVILY on the company's culture, career path, and specific needs.

Btw, forget the $1k in fees. That is NOT a reason to stay somewhere. I'm sitting on $12k in deferred comp that vests in Nov 2015 and would leave next month if something better came along. It would suck to pay that back, but $12k is not significant when I'm considering it in the context of my career and future earnings for the next 30 years.

[fuzyfro89]

@Kay: We are very different. Not a value judgment, just different.

If I felt underpaid, and my employer was unable/unwilling to promote me and give me a raise, I would start looking elsewhere.

25%??? That's huge!

I do, however, completely understand where you are coming from. I actually like my manager/team right now, and would love to work with them for a while, BUT things always change. Tomorrow, my manager that I like could move or get promoted elsewhere and the new manager could be a real D*bag.

My point is that in a very short amount of time, things can turn for the worse.

Again, everything depends on your own goals, and you are in no way obligated to have the same goals as me.

[fuzyfro89]

@Kay: We are very different. Not a value judgment, just different.

If I felt underpaid, and my employer was unable/unwilling to promote me and give me a raise, I would start looking elsewhere.

25%??? That's huge!

I do, however, completely understand where you are coming from. I actually like my manager/team right now, and would love to work with them for a while, BUT things always change. Tomorrow, my manager that I like could move or get promoted elsewhere and the new manager could be a real D*bag.

My point is that in a very short amount of time, things can turn for the worse.

Again, everything depends on your own goals, and you are in no way obligated to have the same goals as me.

[Author]

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